Establishing a Routine While E-Learning

We have talked about the coronavirus pandemic in previous blogs. Not only was remote work and online schooling a challenge to balance before, now that remote work and school has become the norm, it’s more important than ever to focus on our mental and emotional health. We compiled a list of tips to provide you with tools to help refocus your energy and get work accomplished. 

Establishing Routine to Refocus

One of the most important things to do when you start e-learning or working from home is to take care of your body. Taking short breaks in between completing major tasks will help reduce fatigue. These breaks could include breathing exercises, stretching, and meditation to refocus and reduce stress. Since you’re spending a lot of time at home now, it’s crucial that you eat healthy, well balanced meals and increase better sleep habits. 

Establishing Routine to Limit Distraction

Since you’re studying and doing work at home, it’s so easy to get distracted by the chaos that’s surrounding you. Make sure to limit distractions of chores, TV, and other members of your household. Even though you’re at home, you still have a job to accomplish. Make sure to track the time you spend working on projects so you provide the correct amount of hours you are supposed to be working. This being said, it can be surprisingly easy to go deep into overtime when working at home. Finding a balance between work and personal life is key when working from home.

Establishing Routine to Build Communication

Since you might be alone literally all day, having an open line of communication with your instructors or company will be beneficial to your mental and emotional health as well as your work. Keep in close contact with your teachers or employer throughout the week. Notify them of the projects you’ve been working on, what you’ve accomplished, and how long things are taking. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions! If you are struggling with your school work your instructors want to get emails from you. Just because you might not have as much access to them doesn’t mean that you have to be learning on your own. 

It’s also important to stay connected with your peers. When communicating make sure you are using secure communication like we discussed in past modules. If you are talking with coworkers, you should be using company approved applications like encrypted chats or emails. Also, checking-in with your peers will allow you to reduce feelings of social isolation. If you’d normally say hi to your office neighbor every morning, do the same through chat!

Routines are important, and we want you to be positive and motivated as you start this new semester. Thank you for following along with our back to school mini series.